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Who is Eligible for J-1 Sponsorship?

Overview

The purpose of the J-1 visa is to increase mutual understanding between people of the United States and people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges, thereby strengthening the ties between the nations. Every year the University of Washington sponsors several hundred “Exchange Visitors” for short-term academic activities that include teaching, lecturing, observing, conducting research, or consulting. See How to sponsor a J-1 Exchange Visitor. An Exchange Visitor may hold J-1 status up to five years, after which he or she is expected to return home to exercise the skills and knowledge acquired in the United States.

All Exchange Visitor "scholars" must hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The J-1 visa may be appropriate for the following full-time, temporary academic appointments:

Visiting faculty

Academic departments may invite visiting faculty to perform research and/or teach. If teaching is the focus of the activity, the Exchange Visitor must be under direct supervision of department faculty and not have full responsibility for course preparation, presentation and evaluation. (The H-1B visa is generally used for faculty who have full responsibility for course preparation, and evaluation without oversight.)

Visiting researchers


  • Visiting Scholar is an honorary title awarded to persons who hold professorial (including research) positions at other institutions, or other professional positions, and who are invited by an academic department but are not employed by the University of Washington during their stay.
  • The Visiting Scientist title may be used by persons who do not have the MD or PhD and, thus, are not eligible for Senior Fellow or Research Associate appointments but otherwise possess a skill appropriate to an ongoing departmental research activity.
  • Foreign trained MDs and PhDs may hold Research Associate and Senior Fellow appointments. Foreign trained medical doctors sponsored by the UW's J-1 program are restricted in their ability to participate in clinical activities. (See Foreign Medical Graduates)

Visiting International Predoctoral or Professional Scholars (VIPPS)

Predoctoral Scholar

The Predoctoral Scholar title permits students from international partner institutions to join a research project at the UW for a limited period of time. Contact International Programs and Exchanges (IP&E) for information. To qualify as a Predoctoral Scholar (HEPPS job class code 0435) the beneficiary must:

  • Have been nominated by a partner institution overseas. (Partner institutions are universities in other countries with formal bilateral agreements with the UW either at the unit level or university-wide.)
  • Be enrolled as a graduate-level student at the home institution.
  • Be supervised by a UW faculty member on a UW research project.
  • Be at the UW from one to nine months.
  • Not take courses while at the UW.
  • Have a specific research or training objective which he or she will pursue on a full-time basis.
  • Receive substantial financial support from the home institution or other appropriate funding organization and not be paid by, nor receive a tuition waiver from, the UW. Personal funds may supplement but not substitute for external sources of funding.

Professional Scholar

The Professional Scholar title is designed for students or professionals coming to the UW to participate in formal and established programs that provide a predetermined educational objective for the group activity. The program must be pre-approved by ISS for sponsoring Visiting International Professional Scholars on J-1 visas. To qualify as a Professional Scholar (HEPPS job class code 0436) the beneficiary must:

  • Be an enrolled student at the home institution, or engaged in professional practice.
  • Be engaged "full-time" in a prescribed course of scholarly research or training at the UW.
  • Not be a matriculated student at the UW (international students participating in medical clerkships may enroll for courses in accordance with the UW School of Medicine policies).
  • Receive substantial financial support for his or her program from the UW or appropriate funding organization. Personal funds may supplement but not substitute for institutional funding.
  • Engage in a program at the UW that is short-term and temporary.
  • Graduates of foreign medical schools will not engage in clinical programs including internships, residencies or other specialized training involving more than incidental patient contact.